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How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller

completed paper fortune teller or cootie catcher

Learn how to fold this classic paper fortune teller game and fill it with hidden messages for your friends. This fun origami is also sometimes called a cootie catcher.

If you enjoy this paper-folding project, try making an Origami X-Wing Fighter!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO FOLD A PAPER FORTUNE TELLER

  • 8 ½-by-11-inch piece of construction paper cut into a square
  • Markers

HOW TO CUT A PERFECT SQUARE

If you don’t have a square piece of paper, here’s an easy way to cut an 8 1/2-by-11-inch piece of paper into a square.

WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE A PAPER FORTUNE TELLER

STEP 1: Crease a square piece of paper diagonally from each corner. Fold the top right corner to touch the bottom left corner. Crease the fold with your finger and then unfold it so your sheet is flat again. Then take the top left corner and fold it over to the bottom right corner.

step 1 crease the paper to begin making your paper fortune teller

STEP 2: Fold the paper in half from each side. Bring the top edge of the paper to the bottom edge and crease the fold.

step 2

Unfold the paper so it’s flat again and rotate it by 90 degrees. Fold the new top edge of the paper to the bottom to crease it and then flatten it out again. Your paper will have four lines intersecting in the middle.

step 3 for paper fortune teller

STEP 3: Bring the corners to the center of the paper. Start with one of the bottom corners and fold it to the middle of the paper where the creases intersect.

how to fold a paper fortune teller

Press down on the fold with a fingernail so it stays in place.

folding a paper fortune teller

Turn your paper 90 degrees and fold the other bottom corner toward the center. Keep rotating and folding your paper until you’ve made a smaller square containing four triangles.

completing folds to make a paper fortune teller

Flip the paper over and fold each corner to the center again.

STEP 4: Put numbers in ascending order on the triangles. Start with the No. 1 in the smaller top left triangle on the fortune teller. Write the numbers in ascending order clockwise around the triangles until you get to eight.

Then pick four colors to write on the front side of the fortune teller.

add colors and numbers to paper fortune teller

STEP 5: Write the fortunes underneath the flaps. Open up the triangles labeled 1 and 2, and write a short fortune underneath each number. Write small so it fits in the space. Repeat the process under the flap for each number so you have eight different fortunes in all. Close the flaps once you’ve written all the fortunes.

Fortunes you can write:

  • “Something amazing is coming your way tomorrow.”
  • “You will live a very long and happy life.”
  • “Do a Good Turn today!”

label a paper fortune teller

STEP 6: Slide your fingers underneath the squares to operate the paper fortune teller. Ask a friend to choose a color and spell it out.

how to use a paper fortune teller

Then pick a number and count it out. As you do so, move your fingers with each letter and number called out.

how to use a paper fortune teller

Last, have them pick another number to reveal their fortune. Lift the flap for the number they picked. Read your friend’s fortune out loud.

revealed fortune in paper fortune teller

76 Comments on How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller

  1. I don’t why it took me so long I’m crying at these comments. Thanks for the memory refresh it’s been over 16 years since I’ve made one of these

  2. Oragamimaster1234 // August 18, 2022 at 2:31 am // Reply

    I did it 😀 it was so easy

  3. My mom had to help me on the last one but I did the rest it wus so hard broooooo

  4. Dat was hard but I love it

  5. Mermaid Anna // July 8, 2022 at 2:51 am // Reply

    I swear I did everything right but it still didn’t work. Massive disapontment😔

  6. HELP ME

  7. 5mincrafts // May 26, 2022 at 11:58 am // Reply

    I did everything right and at the end it did not work

  8. Demonwolf // May 24, 2022 at 7:44 am // Reply

    Super easy and fun. Thanks for printing the 90s kid back out of me my son will enjoy playing with it

  9. Pe0pLe DId NOtlikE IT.

  10. I did everything right and it did not work!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. I like it so much.It was like one hour to make

  12. 81cool bro // April 22, 2022 at 9:40 am // Reply

    awsomw

  13. 320 soccer gil // April 22, 2022 at 9:38 am // Reply

    it was so esay i did it
    🙂

  14. Was kinda hard but did it at 7:57 p.m.

  15. that was fun

  16. I didn’t understand the bit with Ur fingers going under the Square? Or something?

  17. Now i can pop a hole at the bottom and pretend its a flower. Yay.

  18. it has a very good way of explaining how to do the procedure

  19. what is thiS I DOUN’T UNDUSTAND AT ALL

  20. It like math but harder

  21. It’s great to play with your friends!

  22. It was fun and easy.

  23. I could not get

  24. Ezzz

  25. Tried sliding my fingers, now i just named it the inoperable fortune teller

  26. I can’t do this

  27. its hard

  28. I DONT UNDERSTAND IT AT ALL

  29. i cant get the first step right

  30. its so easy

  31. I got it on the first try it was good 👍

  32. Wow that was easy

  33. Wow that was easy

  34. Bla bla bla

  35. I treid it
    it was easy

  36. a p e r s o n // August 31, 2021 at 6:13 pm // Reply

    I could not figure it out

  37. I don’t now how to do it

  38. Its good

  39. I have trouble trying to slide my fingers in the squares 🤣

  40. I love this site I use to make them all the time when I was younger. Now that I’m 31 I forgot exactly how to do it but wanted to show my 4 year old daughter.

  41. Monica.angle // August 6, 2021 at 12:30 pm // Reply

    It’s probably the best site 👍🏽😉

  42. Can’t do last step

  43. Soooooo easy

  44. Kemlola🤣😃 // May 27, 2021 at 9:26 am // Reply

    This website is the best how do they do this I mean I made a perfect fortune teller

  45. easy as pie

  46. Anime_Gurl9 // May 26, 2021 at 9:46 am // Reply

    it was easy for me 🙂

  47. a random cat lover // May 24, 2021 at 3:03 pm // Reply

    I could not get it so I threw mine away

  48. Minaashido // May 21, 2021 at 1:40 pm // Reply

    Works perfectly!

  49. now i can prank my family

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